Pokémon: Raising Abandoned Pokémon into Legends

Chapter 79: Master Ball?

Outside the lab, one of the researchers took off his glasses, wiped them repeatedly, and put them back on. Watching Primeape punch through one Ghost-type Suit after another inside the test chamber, he finally confirmed he wasn’t dreaming.

There actually was a Fighting-type Pokémon that could break through the suit they’d developed—even if it was just the prototype, it was still mind-blowing. Even the Saffron Fighting-type Gym Leader couldn’t break that.

"Wait—have your Primeape stop for a moment. Let us swap in the final version," the researcher shouted.

"Right, right—let’s switch to the final version. Compared to the prototype, it has a qualitative leap in durability. I don’t believe your Primeape can break that," another researcher said, refusing to accept defeat.

"Primeape—hold on a second." Hearing them, Rio called Primeape off.

"Pu-cha~" Primeape lowered its fists. Though it still looked fierce and enraged, it had learned to suppress its temper for short periods.

"Hurry up—unless you want Primeape to start punching you instead," Rio said coldly, watching the researchers fumble with the equipment to swap the suits.

Damn—I’m the one standing inside here. If Primeape loses control, I’ll be the first to suffer.

"Pu-cha~" Sensing Rio’s displeasure, Primeape also glared at the researchers through the glass, flexing its muscular arms as if to say, Hurry up, or these little fists are coming for you.

Terrified, the researchers frantically typed away at their keyboards. Behind them, the beautiful secretary Sheila was on her phone, contacting someone.

Half a minute later, the final version of the Ghost-type Suits were in place.

"Alright—go ahead. Let’s show you the difference between the final version and the prototype. If you can still break these, I’ll definitely eat that Poké Ball," one researcher declared.

"That’s right—we’ll eat them right away!" the other two echoed, regaining their confidence.

Rio scoffed at these three freeloaders, then turned to Primeape. "Primeape—continue."

Having suppressed its anger and built up fresh rage, Primeape charged at the three final-version suits.

"Pu-cha~"

The first final-version suit was punched through.

The researchers’ confident expressions froze.

"Pu-cha~"

The second final-version suit was punched through.

Their mouths fell open—wide enough to fit a fist.

"Pu-cha~"

The third final-version suit was punched through.

Just like the prototype, all three suits were destroyed in under three seconds.

Rio turned to the researchers, who were now completely speechless with shock. "So, you three freeloaders—shall I personally feed those Poké Balls into your mouths?"

The three exchanged panicked glances. Even though the room was air-conditioned at 24 degrees, sweat was already beading on their foreheads.

"Well..."

"Uh..."

"Actually..."

Faced with Rio’s teasing, they couldn’t string together a single coherent sentence.

Just then, the lab door swung open. President Takuma walked in, holding a Poké Ball engraved with an M.

Rio glanced over casually—then his eyes went wide.

But the president wasn’t looking at him—he was staring at the three researchers. "Sheila told me the prototype was broken—is that true?"

The researchers didn’t dare answer. They’d been telling the president all along that their Ghost-type Suit couldn’t possibly be broken, that the client was definitely extorting them. And now today—not only was the prototype destroyed with ease, but the final version had been punched through like paper by a single Primeape.

"President—not just the prototype. The final version was also destroyed just now," Secretary Sheila whispered from the side. "See for yourself."

"What—even the final version?!" President Takuma’s eyes bulged. He looked into the lab, watching Primeape, which had just easily destroyed their top-of-the-line suit, and his mouth slowly fell open.

A few seconds later, he remembered something and turned a withering glare on the three researchers. "You told me the Ghost-type Suit couldn’t be broken! You said the client was extorting us! That I was meddling! That I should call the client’s bluff and have them bring their Pokémon in for a test—and if they couldn’t break it, sue them for malicious claims!"

"And now?! A second person has broken our suit. Do you still think the client was extorting us?!"

His voice rose with fury: "If I hadn’t insisted, would you have waited until an actual accident happened—until Silph Co.’s reputation was ruined—before you’d regret it?!"

The three researchers trembled, heads bowed, not daring to breathe.

"Hmph!" The old man snorted.

Then, remembering there was an outsider present, he took a few deep breaths to compose himself before turning to Rio.

"Hm?"

He was about to greet him with a smile when he noticed Rio staring intently at the Poké Ball in his hand.

"You want this?" Takuma held up the ball.

Rio nodded without hesitation.

Damn right I want it—who wouldn’t want a Master Ball? I’ve dreamed about it more times than I can count.

"Alright—it’s yours." Takuma tossed the ball to Rio.

"Huh? You’re giving it to me?" Rio caught it with a bewildered expression.

He looked at President Takuma, then at the M-marked Poké Ball in his hand. His expression shifted from bewilderment to shock.

Had he really just gotten a Master Ball? A Master Ball that could catch any legendary Pokémon with 100% certainty? And President Takuma had just casually handed it over?

The suddenness of it all made Rio’s mouth twitch uncontrollably. This was the greatest stroke of luck he’d ever had—even catching the Red Gyarados and finding the Champion-tier Haunter didn’t compare.

He wanted to laugh—really, really laugh. He could already picture himself soaring through the skies on the back of a legendary Pokémon.

Which legendary, though? He had to think carefully. Entei? Raikou? Suicune? Articuno? Zapdos? Moltres?

No, no, no—using a Master Ball on them would feel like a waste. It had to be at least on the level of Lugia, Ho-Oh, Groudon, Kyogre, or Rayquaza—the regional guardians. And of course, that show-off Mewtwo.

Even if he couldn’t ride Mewtwo, just seeing it every day would be a joy. And commanding it in battle? That would be pure bliss.

"Go, Mewtwo! Use Psystrike!"

And then Mewtwo’s Psystrike would blow the opponent to smithereens. That image—absolutely beautiful.

On the other side, President Takuma was staring at Rio with a strange expression as his face grew increasingly abstract.

"Young man—I think you might be misunderstanding something," Takuma said. "What I gave you is just a prototype of a new product we’ve been developing. Not the actual item."